Widdershins

In Widdershins, artist Jilly Coppercorn navigates life in the city of Newford while dealing with partial paralysis from previous events. The story takes place in an urban landscape where the supernatural world exists alongside the mundane, featuring fairies who arrived with European settlers and shape-shifting "cousins" who are indigenous to the Americas. The plot centers on rising tensions between the fairy and cousin communities after a series of violent incidents. These events draw in multiple characters, including Lizzie, an ordinary woman who becomes entangled in the conflict after a chance encounter, and Grey, a cousin being hunted by vengeful forces. The novel builds on De Lint's established Newford universe while exploring themes of vengeance, community responsibility, and healing. The narrative examines how relationships form in unexpected ways and how past actions ripple through both the human and supernatural worlds.

Readers value Widdershins for its character development and seamless blend of Celtic and Native American mythology. Many commend De Lint's portrayal of trauma recovery and note the darker, more serious tone compared to his other Newford books. Positive reviews highlight: - Complex female protagonists - Authentic depiction of musician culture - Integration of supernatural and real-world elements Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Too many viewpoint characters - Heavy subject matter difficult for some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (90+ reviews) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (400+ ratings) Multiple readers note it works as a standalone novel despite being part of the Newford series. Several reviews mention the book's length (560 pages) requires commitment but delivers satisfying character arcs. First-time readers recommend starting with earlier Newford books for better context.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman Ancient deities and supernatural beings navigate modern America's landscape while struggling with identity and power, mirroring Widdershins' blend of mythology in contemporary settings.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Two rival magicians compete through their apprentices in a mysterious circus that blends real and magical worlds in an urban setting.

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull A Minneapolis musician becomes entangled in a war between fairy courts in an urban fantasy that merges music, magic, and modern city life.

The Midnight Mayor by Kate Griffin A sorcerer protects London from supernatural threats while navigating relationships between different magical factions in an urban landscape.

Little Big by John Crowley The Tale family discovers their connection to a parallel fairy realm while living in a modern setting, exploring the intersection of mundane and magical worlds.

🔮 The term "widdershins" comes from Middle Low German "weddersinnes," meaning "in a contrary direction," and was historically associated with witchcraft and dark magic. 🖋️ Charles de Lint pioneered the contemporary urban fantasy genre in the 1980s, earning him the title "godfather of urban fantasy" among many readers and critics. 🏙️ Newford, the fictional city where the story takes place, appears in over 20 of de Lint's novels and short story collections, making it one of the most extensively developed settings in urban fantasy literature. 🎨 The character Jilly Coppercorn appears in multiple Newford stories and was partially inspired by real-life artists in Ottawa's creative community, where de Lint resides. 🌿 The novel's portrayal of Native American spirits draws from authentic folklore traditions, reflecting de Lint's extensive research and consultations with First Nations storytellers and cultural experts.